Amsterdam 12 November 2025, Addis Ababa, 2 Hidar 2018,
In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) and World Waternet officially signed a new project proposal under the BRIGHT programme. This collaboration aims to strengthen hydrological data monitoring systems across five major river basins, laying the foundation for more effective and climate-resilient water management. BRIGHT, short for Basin Management Support for Resilient, Inclusive Growth and Harmonized Transformation, supports the national rout of Ethiopia’s Integrated Water Resources Management Plan (IWRMP).
BRIGHT
BRIGHT is a five-year initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and the European Union (EU). The main goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), Basin Administration Offices, and relevant regional bureaus in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The programme is managed by the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) and focuses on improving water governance, planning, and data management across Ethiopia’s major river basins.
You can't manage what you don't measure, and that's especially true for water. Across Ethiopia's rivers and reservoirs, too much remains unknown: how much water there is, where it flows, and what itsquality is. This limited hydrological data currently poses a major barrier to evidence-based decision-making across Ethiopia's water sector. ollecting accurate information on rainfall, groundwater, river levels, combined with the water quality of these waterbodies will lay the foundation for more efficient operations and sustainable management practices. World Waternet is proud to be part of this ambitious initiative!
Says Maarten Wensing, Partnership Director World Waternet for East Africa.
Hard work pays off
The project aims to strengthen the operational and technical capacity of
Ethiopia’s water institutions.
It took long until we got to the point of signing this proposal, but now the foundation to work together is strong. This collaboration builds on years of trust and technical exchange. With this start, we aim to lay the foundations for long-term resilience in Ethiopia’s water sector.
– Dr. Gete Zeleke, Director, WLRC
The goal
This initiative marks an important step towards advancing integrated water
resource management, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring reliable water
access for millions of people. The BRIGHT project covers five key basins (Abbay, Upper Awash, Omo-Gibe, Rift Valley, and Tekezie), representing 70 percent of Ethiopia’s landmass and 73.5 percent of its water potential. The impact will reach nearly 80 million people across 512 districts. Our contribution will be the backbone of achieving these goals.
Peer-to-peer learning
The BRIGHT project is implemented by WLRC in close partnership with MoWE and its regional offices. World Waternet brings in its international expertise in peer-to-peer learning and technical solutions.
Key activities include:
• Targeted training and on-the-job coaching for MoWE staff.
• Procurement and integration of hydrometric equipment compatible with the national Basin Information System (BIS).
• Development of user-friendly manuals, dashboards, and data workflows tailored to national and regional needs.
• A robust exit strategy to ensure local ownership and long-term sustainability.
*The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) is an Ethiopian research and
knowledge centre that works on water, land, and environmental management. It
supports the government and local communities with data, training, and practical
solutions to manage natural resources better.
